Disney defended its decision, saying they only darkened actors’ skin when they needed the actor for a special reason. (Walt Disney Productions)

Disney has confirmed that several actors on the set of the live-action "Aladdin" adaptation had their skin darkened as a way to "blend in" better in the background— but only because they were actually part of the crew.

A source told the Daily News that the make-up was only applied when specific players were needed for their particular skill sets, like stunt performers.

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"(The makeup) was only used when necessary in a small handful of instances where it was a matter of specialty skills and safety/control, so for things like special effects rigs, stunt performers and animal handlers," the source said, adding that the film had just one speaking role that was not diverse, and that the character appeared on screen for a mere seven minutes.

The film, directed by Guy Ritchie, is currently being shot in the United Kingdom just outside of London.

An extra from the set told British paper The Sunday Times that he observed as many as 20 "very fair skinned" actors getting their skin darkened with make-up ahead of shooting scenes that take place in the fictional Middle Eastern city of Agrabah.

Actor Kal Penn expressed his disappointment with the studio's decision, calling it "bs."

I love @Disney so much. But when a PR person says they decided to put 100 people in Brownface in 2018 because not enough of us are qualified, that’s bs, someone just didn’t want to spend the $ to do it right. Let’s all expect more & do better this year.https://t.co/MzZJp6jvPB

"I love Disney so much. But when a PR person says they decided to put 100 people in Brownface in 2018 because not enough of us are qualified, that's bs, someone just didn't want to spend the $ to do it right. Let's all expect more & do better this year," he wrote on Twitter.

"Aladdin" stars Egyptian-Canadian actor Mena Massoud as the title character, and Naomi Scott, a British actress with Indian heritage, as Princess Jasmine.

Scott's casting faced criticism, since she is not Arab, as did the casting of white actor Billy Magnussen, who will reportedly join the cast as a new character named Prince Anders.